Gomposite makers roll out new decking

f, s oecx sEASoN approaches. manAufacturers of composite deck boards are introducing new Products-or expanding and imProving old ones.

Advanced Environmental Technologies Inc. is the proud parent of NanoShield, the first composite deck board to incorporate nanotechnology. The Springdale, Ar., comPanY devel- oped the new product in partnership with NanoMech, Fayetteville, Ar. The process bonds inorganic nanoparticles to treated wood particles to form a durable shell of similar composition.

"We believe nanotechnology will be one of the next technology leaders for this industry," says chairman and c.e.o. Joe Brooks. "AERT's NanoShield board will represent a game- changing product with unmatched performance and characteristics."

Brent Gwatney, v.p. of sales and marketing for AERT's MoistureShield brand, says that NanoShield will be a "high-end product that will look more like wood. It will be something to compete with cellular PVC and capstock composites."

Teuro Building Products, Joplin,

Mo., plans to introduce a new compression-molded deck board that is capped on three sides, but details have not been released. However, industry sources believe that the new product will be christened Envision, the same name used in 2009 for a PVC deck board that failed to gain significant market share.

The new product will be produced using Tnuro's compression-molding manufacturing process-already used for the company's EverGrain composite decking-which experts say gives boards a deeper grain and texture than composite boards that are injectionmolded.

Armadillo Deck is the latest offering from Master Mark Plastics, Albany, Mn., which also produces Rhino Deck. The composite boards are made from a proprietary mix of wood pulp and recycled, high-density polyethylene plastics, then fully wrapped with a tough polyethylene coating to resist fading, weathering, scratching, stains, and mildew. Available colors are painted desert, canyon gray, Sedona, and driftwood, with wood grain on both sides.

Trex Co., Winchester, Va., recently introduced Enhance composite decking, which is positioned between its Transcend and Accents lines. Like Transcend, Enhance has a three-sided shell that protects against staining, fading, mold, rot, cracks and splinters.

Available in two colors-clam shell and beach dune-Enhance decking is manufactured from 957o recy- cled content, including reclaimed wood, sawdust and plastic bags. "Enhance will both expand and strengthen our high-performance decking portfolio and provide consumers with a composite product that features a multitude of innovative features," says Ronald W. Kaplan, chairman, president and c.e.o. "We're establishing a clear 'good, better, best' decking line-up, which allows consumers to select the ideal product to meet their outdoor living needs."

TimberTech, Wilmington, Oh., has added three new colors-brick, slate and brownstone-to its new Earthwood Evolutions collection. Featuring proprietary HydroLock technology, the line is the company's first fully capped composite decking product, with a flat-grain surface that doesn't trap dirr and a consistent variegated color for the look of hardwood.

"The success of Earthwood Evolutions exceeded even our expectations, but we knew that customers were looking for a product with increased scratch, stain and fade resistance coupled with unmatched aesthetics," says product manager Toby Bostwick. "The collection brings the same high performance qualities with